With Kobe Bryant perhaps interrupting his family vacation in France eager to hear how the Lakers will address their worst season in Los Angeles franchise history, general manager Mitch Kupchak looked into a camera and uttered a word that usually seems foreign.

“I’m sure he’s saying, ‘Why is Mitch using the word ‘patience?’ ” Kupchak said of Bryant. “He’s not the most patient person in the world. That’s never going to change.”

Yet, through a 41-minute news conference Friday at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo, Kupchak suggested Bryant — and the Lakers’ fan base — will have to understand that restoring a franchise that has won 16 NBA titles seems as complicated as navigating traffic in Southern California.

Kupchak hasn’t yet decided on Mike D’Antoni’s coaching future. Kupchak spoke endlessly about the need to maximize financial flexibility. Though the Lakers are destined to use a lottery pick for the first time since 2005, Kupchak sounded uncertain aboutthe exact impact this year’s star studded draft could offer.

Although he touted Pau Gasol as “a priority” to keep, Kupchak expressed caution on whether Gasol and a flurry of role players on one-year contracts will re-sign once they become free agents in July.

Kupchak also praised Steve Nash’s determination in overcoming the nerve irritation in his back that sidelined him for all but 15 games this season. Although the Lakers plan to to keep Nash, Kupchak expressed the importance of pursuing a starting point guard for reinforcements.

“We both want to win as much and as soon as possible,” Kupchak said, addressing Bryant’s recent criticisms about the Lakers’ rebuilding plans. “It takes an organization a long time to get in the position that we’re in where we have options financially going forward for the next year or two or three. We just have to make wise decisions using that space.”

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Two months ago, Bryant said he has “not one lick” of patience for another rebuilding year. Bryant has since softened his criticism and praised the front office after meeting with Kupchak and Lakers executive Jim Buss. But Bryant, who played only six games this season because of a torn left Achilles tendon and a fractured left knee, has remained visibly detached from the Lakers and caught them off guard with his recent trip to France.

“I did not know he was leaving town, “Kupchak said. “We had a tough year. Kobe’s had a really tough two years. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Instead, Kupchak made a big deal of how he plans to stay patient with the Lakers’ rebuilding plan.

Kupchak said it’s “a possibility” he will use the draft pick in a trade, but spoke in general terms on how this star-studded draft could make an impact. The Lakers are currently slotted for the No. 6 pick, but have a 6.3 percent chance in receiving the top pick in the May 20 lottery.

“There are several players — depending on how quickly they develop — that can be really really good players in this league,” Kupchak said. “Based on maturity, position, it’s going to take a year or two.

“I think there are some players in the draft that are a little bit older that aren’t just freshmen that may be in a position to play and make a contribution quicker.”

Despite Bryant’s two-year, $48.5 million extension, the Lakers have plenty of cap space this summer with Steve Nash ($9.8 million) and Robert Sacre ($915,243) the only other players besides Bryant under contract. But it’s unlikely LeBron James opts out of his contract with Miami. That leaves the Lakers eyeing the 2015 free agency class, which could include Minnesota’s Kevin Love.

“There is a degree of patience here,” Kupchak said. “It’s not like we’ve worked four years to create financial flexibility and now no matter what, on (July 8), we’re going to spend it all or use it all. We have to make sure that we use it wisely. If we can use it wisely right away, we will. If we have to use part of it and wait a year to use the other part of it, we’ll do that.”

As for Bryant, who is heading into his 19th season?

“We expect him to be back 100 percent for training camp,” Kupchak said of Bryant, who will turn 36 in August. “He can’t do things today that he did seven years ago. But because there’s a training camp, I don’t think it’s a big concern.”

Then, the Lakers will have much clarity both on what roster he inherits and whether Bryant will exhibit the patience the Lakers are preaching.